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US 6,886,907 B1Granted
Cleaning device for cleaning printhead of ink-jet printer
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTsugio Okamoto, Takeshi Asano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning device for cleaning a printhead of an ink-jet printer. The cleaning device includes, a cleaning unit provided with a cleaning blade, and a traveling unit that carries the cleaning unit. The traveling unit reciprocates between first and second positions to perform a cleaning cycle of the printhead. The cleaning blade is held by the cleaning unit perpendicular to an ink ejecting surface of the printhead to clean the ink ejecting surface when the traveling unit moves in one direction. Further, The cleaning blade is inclined against the ink ejecting surface to avoid being rubbed against the ink ejecting surface when the traveling unit moves in an opposite direction.
Claims74
A cleaning device for cleaning a printhead of an ink-jet printer, comprising:
- a cleaning unit provided with a cleaning blade;
- and
- a traveling unit that carries said cleaning unit, said traveling unit reciprocating to perform a cleaning cycle of the printhead,
- wherein said cleaning blade is held by said cleaning unit perpendicular to an ink ejecting surface of the printhead to clean said ink ejecting surface when said traveling unit moves in one direction, and
- wherein said cleaning blade is inclined against said ink ejecting surface to avoid being rubbed against said ink ejecting surface when said traveling unit moves in an opposite direction.
2 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade;
- and
- a carriage arranged to carry said blade supporting member between a wiping start position and a wiping end position,
- wherein said blade supporting member keeps said cleaning blade at said first blade position when said carriage moves from said wiping start position to said wiping end position to allow said cleaning blade wiping said ink ejecting surface of the printhead, and
- wherein said blade supporting member keeps said cleaning blade at said second blade position when said carriage moves from said wiping end position to said wiping start position to prevent said cleaning blade from coming into contact with said ink ejecting surface.
4 more elements
A method for cleaning an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- covering at least a part of an ink ejecting surface of the printhead with a cap member, the cap member being formed to receive ink discharged from the ink ejecting surface during a purge operation of the printhead;
- moving the cap member away from the printhead after the purge operation to uncover the ink ejecting surface;
- moving a cleaning blade after the purge operation from a wiping end position to a wiping start position while keeping the cleaning blade at a non-wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being not wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the non-wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- moving back the cleaning blade from the wiping start position to the wiping end position while keeping the cleaning blade at a wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- and
- waiting for next purge operation with the cleaning blade located at the wiping end position.
3 more elements
A method for cleaning an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- moving a cleaning blade from a wiping end position to a wiping start position while keeping the cleaning blade at a non-wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being not wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the non-wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- covering at least a part of the ink ejecting surface with a cap member after the cleaning blade is moved to the wiping start position, the cap member formed to receive ink discharged from the ink ejecting surface during a purge operation of the printhead;
- moving the cap member away from the printhead after the purge operation to uncover the ink ejecting surface;
- moving back the cleaning blade from the wiping start position to the wiping end position after the cap member is moved away from the printhead, the cleaning blade being moved while keeping the cleaning blade at a wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- and
- waiting for next purge operation with the cleaning blade located at the wiping end position.
3 more elements
A method for cleaning an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- covering at least a part of an ink ejecting surface of the printhead with a cap member, the cap member formed to receive ink discharged from the ink ejecting surface during a purge operation of the printhead;
- moving the cap member away from the printhead after the purge operation to uncover the ink ejecting surface;
- moving a cleaning blade after the purge operation from a wiping start position to a wiping end position while keeping the cleaning blade at a wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- moving back the cleaning blade from the wiping end position to the wiping start position while keeping the cleaning blade at a non-wiping attitude, the ink ejecting surface being not wiped when the cleaning blade kept at the non-wiping attitude passes by the ink ejecting surface;
- and
- waiting for next purge operation with the cleaning blade located at the wiping start position.
3 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade;
- and
- a blade actuating member placed adjacent to said blade supporting member, said blade actuating member being movable toward and away from said blade supporting member, said blade actuating member make said blade supporting member to swing to said first blade position by moving toward and sliding under said blade supporting member, said blade actuating member allowing said blade supporting member to swing to said second blade position by moving away from said blade supporting member,
- wherein said blade supporting member is supported pivotably about an axis parallel to said ink ejecting surface, and
- wherein said blade supporting member swings toward said ink ejecting surface to locate said cleaning blade at said first blade position and swings away from said ink ejecting surface to locate said cleaning blade at said second blade position.
4 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade;
- and
- an absorber vent formed in a vicinity of a lower end portion of said first ink absorber at a side opposite to said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade, ink absorbed into said first ink absorber being discharged through said absorber vent.
2 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade;
- a cap member arranged to cover at least a part of said ink ejecting surface of said printhead and receive ink discharged from said printhead during a purge operation;
- and
- a carriage arranged to carry said blade supporting member between a wiping start position and a wiping end position,
- wherein said cap member covers said ink ejecting surface during said purge operation and moves away from said ink ejecting surface after said purge operation, and
- wherein said carriage reciprocates between said wiping start position and said wiping end position to allow said cleaning blade wiping said ink ejecting surface after said cap member has moved away from said ink ejecting surface.
5 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade;
- a cap member arranged to cover at least a part of said ink ejecting surface of said printhead and receive ink discharged from said printhead during a purge operation;
- and
- a carriage arranged to carry said blade supporting member between a wiping start position and a wiping end position,
- wherein said cap member covers said ink ejecting surface during said purge operation and moves away from said ink ejecting surface after said purge operation, and
- wherein said carriage moves from said wiping end position to said wiping start position, stays at said wiping start position with said cleaning blade located at said first blade position until said purge operation is carried out, and then moves back to said wiping end position.
5 more elements
A cleaning device for cleaning an ink ejecting surface of an ink-jet printhead, comprising:
- a cleaning blade arranged to wipe said ink ejecting surface with a tip portion thereof;
- a blade supporting member arranged to support said cleaning blade, said blade supporting member being movable between first and second blade positions, said cleaning blade comes into contact with said ink ejecting surface to wipe said ink ejecting surface at said first blade position while being kept apart from said ink ejecting surface at said second blade position;
- and
- a first ink absorber having a side surface being inclined against said ink ejecting surface, said side surface coming into contact with said cleaning blade located at said second blade position to remove ink adhered to said cleaning blade,
- wherein said cleaning blade is not warped when said cleaning blade contacts said first ink absorber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.